How to Remove Pet Odors From Your Home

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Have you ever wondered how to remove pet odors from your home? If there is one thing that really bothers me, it’s when I return home and can smell that we have pets. No matter how clean you are, there are going to be times that your pets leave some sort of odor behind. While you cannot stop them from doing that, you can learn to minimize how noticeable those odors are. This post contains affiliate links, and I will receive compensation if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

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How to Remove Pet Odors From Your Home

Of course, the first thing that needs to happen when removing odors is to find out the cause of the odor. Is there a physical mess that needs to be picked up? Does the cat litter box need to be changed? Has your dog had an accident? Does your hamster’s bedding need to be replaced?

Eliminate the Problem

Whatever the source of the odor is, handle it immediately. Scoop the cat box frequently. Be sure that your dog is taken outside regularly to minimize indoor accidents. Replace your small animal’s bedding frequently and clean out the inside of the cage each time. Once the problem is removed, it will be easier to eliminate the odor.

Launder Fabrics

Whether you have a pet bed for your dog or a special blanket for your cat to sleep on, fabrics should be laundered regularly to remove odors. If your pet likes to sit on the couch or upholstered chair, it’s not as easy to clean. Be sure that you place a blanket or throw over the spot our pet likes to rest on. Try washing the item using an Enzyme Cleaner to help remove the odor of traditional laundry detergent doesn’t work.

Baking Soda

If you cannot launder the item but it can be vacuumed like a rug or furniture, try sprinkling on baking soda. After sprinkling the baking soda onto the item, let it sit for 20 minutes, and then vacuum up. Baking soda is known to remove odors.

Open a Window

One of the easiest ways to freshen the air in your home is to open a window and let fresh air in. While this is more difficult in the winter, even 15 minutes can help quite a bit.

Fragrances

If you’re considering buying an air freshener, natural or chemical, please think twice. Air fresheners are not safe to use around many pets. Your dog spends a lot of time laying on the carpet. If you plan on using a commercial carpet cleaner or deodorizer, keep this in mind. Essential oils should never be used around cats and only specific EOs are safe for dogs. If you absolutely must have a fragrance in your home, consider boiling lemon and orange rinds in a pot on the stove for a fresh, natural citrus scent.

Now that you know how to remove pet odors, which one will you try first?

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I think the most important thing, besides making sure odors dont develop in the first place – i.e. accidents/neglected cat litter – is cleaning materials that can trap odors , like you mentioned. The biggest one being carpet. I use a bissell carpet cleaner ( like the ones you can rent) all the time because of cat messes. However, if you are dealing with urine messes, you need to drag out the big guns. Buy a special urine eliminator/cleaner from a pet shop and treat the area. But be warned, you may have to pull up the carpet and treat/remove the underlayer and wood underneath. I speak from dealing with rentals, and that is a problem you can’t just mask over.

I have always wondered how those candles made specifically for pet odors work, or IF they work I guess. I can’t see how just burning a candle would get the smell out of fabrics or carpets. I do know lighting some incense helps with some of my food smells, so guess it is for light pet odor, lol.

Ellen is a busy Vermont mom of a 20-year-old son and 24 year old daughter. She owns 5 blogs and is addicted to social media. She has been running a small pet sitting business in southern Vermont for the past three years. She's a proud Mommy to 2 shelter kitties. If you'd like to work together, email info@other-peoples-pets.com to chat.

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